Navajo Woman from Colorado Sentenced for Federal Child Abuse Conviction in New Mexico

Navajo Woman from Colorado Sentenced for Federal Child Abuse Conviction in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE—Lorrena Ann Yazzie, 27, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Durango, Colo., was sentenced this morning in federal court to three years of probation for her child abuse conviction.

Yazzie was arrested on April 7, 2014, on a criminal complaint alleging an assault charge. According to the criminal complaint, Yazzie injured an infant who was a passenger in a vehicle she was driving when Yazzie caused a single-car collision by falling asleep at the wheel. Yazzie allegedly was intoxicated at the time of the collision. The collision occurred on April 2, 2014, south of Shiprock, N.M., which is located within the Navajo Indian Reservation. Yazzie subsequently was indicted and charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and child abuse.

On Nov. 7, 2014, Yazzie entered a guilty plea to the child abuse charge and admitted placing a child in a situation that endangered the child’s life or health.

This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback prosecuted the case.